I've never met anybody who wasn't important before.

I love being a teacher, but the hardest part is when your students are in pain. On Monday one of my students - a 15 yo boy - was much quieter than usual. At the end of class I managed to get him to tell me that he's been bullied for the whole year; including during of my classes, right under my nose (gah!)

He's told other teachers but they did nothing, so he didn't see the point in telling me. He's tried putting up with it, but he's tired of being called a fag.

I teach religion in a Catholic school and he expected me to join in the condemnation. I take my faith seriously so I did the exact opposite. Instead I told him the truth.

God loves him, no matter what other people say. Nothing can ever change the fact that he matters.

He really didn't want to come to class anymore, because even his friends have joined in. Just to be clear - this isn't a religious-based homophobia (the kids aren't religious and are pretty queer friendly). Its just plain dumb bullying.

So enough was enough. Time for action.

Yesterday I pulled the most vocal kid in the class aside - she's the one who sets the tone in their group - and made it clear to her that this was not a game and I needed her full cooperation in fixing the class' attitude.

I also found his friends and told them plainly: real friends don't treat each other like that.

Today I taught my next lesson as normal and managed to work in the right message: treat others as you want to be treated,

When one of the kids muttered "fag" under his breath I came down on him like the hammer of Thor.